Knockdown box



J. L. BUEHL AND F. A. FR|TZE,' 1n.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1916.

1,361,823, I Patented Dec, 14, 1920'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. L. BUEHL AND F. A. FRITZE, JR.

KNOCKDOWN BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 19H;-

1,361,823. Patented Dec. 14, 1920. I v SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. L. BUEHL AND F. A. FRITZE, In. I KNOCKDOWN BOX. 7

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17- 1916.

1,361,823. Patented Dec. 14,1920.

5 SHEETS-rSHEET 4- J. L. BUEHL AND F. A. FRITZE, JR.

KNOCKDOWNBOX... APPLICAHON FILED mnu, 1916.

1,361,823, Patented Dec.14,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. BUEHL AND FERDINAND A. FRITZE, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS' TO DURABLE BOX 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed February 17, 1916. Serial No. 78,914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN L. BUEHL and FERDINAND A. F RITZE, J12, both citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes, of which the following is a description.

Our invention belongs to that general class of boxes used in shipping or handling various goods, and which, for the purpose of economy, it is desirable to construct in such a manner that they may be easily packed and shipped in the knocked-down condition, greatly economizing in space and in freight rates, and which may be readily assembled for use without the necessity of skilled labor or special machinery. In the drawings such a box is illustrated particularly adapted for bottlers use, although it is obvious that boxes of the same general character may be constructed for any desirable purpose. The object of the invention is to produce a simple, effective, very strong and durable box of the kind described, which may be readily assembled or disassembled for shipping or any other desired purpose, without the necessity of skilled labor or special means.

To this end our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure l is a perspective view of our im proved box, set up ready for use, with the cover slightly raised to show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the parts broken away to more clearly show the construction Fig. 3 is a transverse section, substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially on line 4-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of one corner, illustrating the connection between the proximate side and end;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the preferred form of a hinge used in the box illustrated;

Fig. 11 is'a section taken substantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially 0 line 12-12 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a partial elevation illustrating another modification or means for securing the sides and end sections together;

Fig. 14 is a partial side elevation showing lmproved means for removably securing the bottom of the box in position Fig. 15 is a section taken substantially on line 15-15 of Fig. 14:;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary View showing a modified means for lending additional Eupport to the bottom connection of the Fig. 17 is a section taken substantiall line 17-17 of Fig. 16, and

Fig. 18 is a detailed View of a detachable connecting member for the bottom, shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

In the drawings 1 and 2 are the front and rear ends of the box illustrating our invention. 3 and 4 are the sides of said box, 3 being the cover of the same and 7 the bot- The ends and sides of the box are separately constructed, and are provided with inter-locking means by which they may be detachably connected to make up the box form. r

The cover may be hinged to one of these sections in any suitable manner, as at 8, Fig. 1, 2 and 3. Any suitable latch connection may be provided for the front lid of the box, as at 9-10, Figs. 1 and 2.

The bottom 7 of the box is also sepa rately constructed to be detachably engaged with the sides and ends, such engagement being of any preferred form.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9, a transverse cleat 11 extends across the bottom of the box centrally thereof, serving to strengthen the bottom and providing a seat for the transverse rod 12 between the bottom 7 and the cleat 11, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The ends 13 of the rod 12 are upturned at the marginal edges of the bottom7, being recessed therein, and the ends outurned as at 14 and firmly seated in suitable apertures formed therefor in the ends 3 and 4:. The

- which are placed pins 17, which when the box is assembled extend at their outer ends into the cleats 18 on the sides 1 and 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and preferably extend therethrough, and into the said sides, as shown. As previously stated, any preferred means may be employed to detachably rctain the bottom in proper relative position with the sides and ends of the box, and the position of the rod and pins just described obviously may be reversed.

In the preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the front side 1 is provided with cleats 19 19, the rear side 2 with cleats 20-20, the end 3 with cleats 2121, and the end 4 with cleats 22-22, the same being of the ordinary construction, and arranged transversely of said particular part, that is vertically near the corners of the box, as shown'in Fig. 1. These cleats are preferably recessed on their faces in contact with the proximate side or end, as shown in the drawings, and mating fiat metal coupling members 2324 are seated in said recesses, extending beyond thesame at the free edges with the ends upturned as at 25 at the rear of said cleats. These clips or connecting members are preferably placed in positionbefore the cleats are nailed upon their respective sides or ends, thus serving to firmly hold said clips in position. As illustrated, one of said clips or members, as 23, has a hooked end, while the other has an eye with which said hook engages. Thus, in

. setting up the box, the several sides and ends are engaged with each other by means of these engaging clips, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, at three of the corners thereof. Obviously, at the fourth corner there is not suflicient freedom of movement to so hook the parts together and still retain the rigidity necessary in a box of this kind. As shown in the lower right hand corner, Fig. 2 and as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, one of the members, as 24, at that point, both at the top and bottom of the box, does not have its free end upturned as in the other cases, but readily slips into the recess between the cleat 22 and the end 4: of V the box by an endwise movement. Suitable apertures are formed in these two clips to receive removable bolts 26, carried on a suitable part 27, which is positioned inside of the box at that corner, said bolts 26 pass ing through the end 1 of the box, through the clips 24, and extending into the cleat 22, as clearly indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. If desired a small screw 28 may be employed to simply prevent the accidental falling or disengagement of the part 27 as the box is carelessly thrown about. The ends and sides are assembled about the bottom 7, as illustrated in the drawings, firmly securing the bottom to said sides and ends, as before described, and as better illustrated in Figs. 3-and 9. In thus assembling the box also the strips 29-30 are positioned within the box to protect bottled goods, the ends of one or the other, as'for illustration 29, project into the sides 3 and 4 slightly, to prevent their accidental disengagement, the parts 29 and 30 being notched and formed to snugly engage with one another as. ill us trated in Fig. 1.

As stated, any suitable hinge may be employed which will permit the disengagement ofthe cover from the box,

As shownin Figs. 2 and 3, the hinge may be constructed by a wire of suitable stren th and rigidity, as at 31, being passed un er the cleat 32, with itsend upbent as at 33, with the free end bent downwardly and forwardly as at 34;. A cooperating eye, as 35, may be arranged to be engaged with the hook 3 1, with the free end of the eye embedded in the cleat 20, as shown at 36 in the upper right hand corner at Fig. 2.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 10-11 12 and 13 is a modification of the corner connections heretofore described. Asshown in said figures, instead of being formed of flat metal, the engaging members are formed of wire of a suitable size and character. Thus, as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the wire 37 is bent to form the loop or eye extending from the edge of the cleat, with the free ends 38 bent upward to engage the inner edge of the cleat, as shown. The wire is seated in a suitable recess formed in the cleat, which prevents its accidental displacement and retains it in its original position,

properly seated to engage the hook member bent inward beneath the cleat, instead of being bent upward, as described, may be laterally bent as at 40, and may be extended from one of the loops to the other, the wire being one integral piece engaging with the cleat.

Various modifications may be made in the manner of detachably engaging the bottom of the box with the side and end memmers. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, 41 is an angle bar of metal, which may be secured to the side or end of the box, as clearly indicated in Fig. 15. The horizontal section42 terminates in an upward bend 43. The bottom 7 is provided with a suitable cleat 44, which has a groove 45 formed therein to engage the upward extension 43, the section 46 between said groove and the end being of sufficient length to be firmly positioned against the side member of the box, as indicated.

As clearly indicated in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, instead of employing the connecting member 12 shown in Fig; 9, to connect the bottom to the side and end members, a peculiarlyshaped metal part 47 may be employed. As clearly shown in Fig. 16, the horizontal bend is seated in a suitable groove formed in the cleat 48, and thence extends upward and out ward as at 49, to engage the side or end. members of the box, the upward extension 50 is preferably seated also in a groove seat in. the cleat 48.

The entire box is compact and very strong. It may be readily manufactured at the place of lumber supply, and being in a knocked down form, may be shipped at a very reasonable freight rate, thus securing a substantial economy in both the cost of the material and the freight rates, as there is the minimum waste material. The entire box can be easily set up or taken'down without pulling or driving nails. In the construction of various parts where nails are employed in making the individual parts, the nails are preferably malleable, and are thoroughly clenched, adding great strength to the box and preventing the nails loosening and drawing out, which is a common difficulty.

In the various methods shown, not a nail or screw is required to hold the bottom in place between the side and end members, thus doing away with the necessity of strapping, now so common, and which adds expense and unnecessary labor.

In connecting up the side and end members, the seal at the last connecting corner serves to firmly lock all of those members in position, and prevent their accidental or intentional disengagement. The box can not be taken down until it is unlocked, the lid raised and the seal member inside purposely removed. Owing to the ease and convenience of assembling or knocking down the box, it may be readily returned to the shipper and used again and agaln.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial, modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described. and uses mentioned.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A box of the kind described including side and end members, and detachable hinged connections for three corners of the box in combination with coupling means at the fourth corner of the box, the adjoining end portions of the side and end members at the fourth corner of the box being provided with transverse cleats and said coupling means comprising a pair of coupling members having cooperating portions in detachable hinged engagement, one coupling member being fixedly secured in position with a portion thereof extending between a cleat and the member to which the cleat is attached, the other coupling member having a portion constructed to slip longitudinally beneath the cleat, and means for detachably securing said last mentioned coupling member in position.

2. In a device of the kind described, side and end members arranged to be placed together to form a complete box with transverse cleats near the ends of said members, and detachable engaging clips for three corners of the box positioned between the cleats and the end or side members, and extending therefrom, with the inner ends turned up to engage the cleats, in combination at the fourth corner of the box with one member of the clip arranged to slip longitudinally beneath the cleat, and a locking member inside the box formed to engage said clip to retain the same in position, a bottom for the box, means for securing the bottom in position, and a cover therefor.

3. In a device of the kind described, end and side members to form a complete box, with transverse cleats near the ends of said members, in combination with cooperating engaging members at the meeting ends of the sides and ends of the box, said engaging members comprising eye members adapted to slip beneath the cleats, and turned up to engage the rear thereof, and cooperating members comprising hooks adapted to engage said first-named members, and likewise positioned between the cleats and turned up at the rear thereof to engage said cleats.

4. In a device of the kind described, side and end members, each provided with transverse cleats near the ends thereof, said cleats being recessed to receive betweenthe body coupling members, each coupling member and the cleat a locking member, in combihaving a part to extend between a cleat and nation with engaging locking members, comprising a hook and eye construction formed from flat metal, said members being positioned in said recesses between the cleats and the sides or ends, with the inner ends turned up to engage the inner sides of said cleats. V

5. A device of the kind described including adjoining side and end members provided at their end portions with cleats, the cleats being provided with recesses in their inner faces adjacent the outer faces of the members to which they are attached, and

the member to which the cleat is attached in the recess of the cleat, said part having an inner end portion extending outwardly against the adjoining inner edge face of the 0 eat.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. BUEHL. FERDINAND A. FRITZE, JR. itnesses JOHN WV. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB. 

